Bloody Hell!

Chapter Five

Ron and Harry grinned insanely, but the other three just looked confused. Hermione explained,

'A few minutes ago, we talked about our animagus training and we thought we should have nicknames. You saw the prank in the Great Hall. We still need nicknames. Come on; let's go to our common room! I'll tell you all there!'

They followed her and ran behind her through the halls. She led them to the painting of the Fat Lady, gave the password, and led them all in. when they got comfortable on the armchairs around the fire, Hermione said,

'As you know, we all are becoming animagi and we thought of being the new generation of the Marauders.'

'Who are Marauders?' asked Neville. Harry answered before Hermione could,

'The Marauders were the best pranksters Hogwarts ever had. They were better then the Weasley twins. There were four of them. Though now there are only two left...'

He closed his eyes for a moment, then continued,

'One of them is Peter Pettigrew, or also known after his nickname, Wormtail. He is the one that betrayed my parents. It wasn't Sirius Black.'

He felt the tears in his eyes again, but ignored them.

'Moony is our esteemed Defence Against Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin. He is the only one of the Marauders that isn't an animagus. Wormtail is a rat. A rat with a silver paw, so if you see one, please stun it and bring it straight to me.'

He gulped and said,

'Sirius Black was also one of the Marauders. He was a big black dog and his nickname was Padfoot. He... he is gone now...'

Harry felt his voice crack and a sob escaped his lips. But he continued nonetheless.

'The last one of the Marauders was James Potter, also known as Prongs and his animagus form was a stag.'

'Your dad was a Marauder?' asked Neville shocked. Harry shook his head and confessed,

'James Potter isn't my father. Professor Snape is.'

'And you are okay with this?' was Ginny's surprised voice. Harry smiled slightly and answered,

'Well, kind of. I'm glad that I have a father, but it was a shock to know that my father was the professor who seemingly made my last five years at Hogwarts a living hell. But, I guess, I'm okay with it. We still need to talk, mind you. And I hope he isn't too mad with me for the prank I made.'

They all laughed. When they stopped laughing, Hermione said,

'Okay, I thought about this all through the dinner. You all know your forms, right?'

Nodding came her way.

'Neville, you are a panther. The Italian word for this animal is pantera. You could be Pantera. Luna, you're a swan... there is a very strange word for it in Latin... phaeton I think. But the Italian word for a swan is Cigne. You decide. Gin, you're a fox. Vulpera is a Latin word for a fox. You could be Volpie. Ron, you're a wolf. You know you can't be Moony. We already got one. But you could be Lupus, Lupellus, Lupin, Lupinus, or Wolfie. Harry, you are a Gryffin, and I couldn't think of a nickname, so Gryffin stays. And I am a lynx. I also didn't think of a word about lynx, so I stay Lynx. What do you think?'

Ginny immediately said,

'I like that. Volpie!'

Neville also exchanged his enthusiasm,

'Pantera isn't so bad either.'

'Yes, I think I like that. Cigne. It's strange.'

So are you, Harry thought, then said,

'I'm in for Gryffin.'

Ron smiled mischievously and said,

'I think I'm going to be Lupin.'

'I don't think that's a good idea Ron, we could mix you with Remus.'

'Oh, all right, Lupellus then!'

Hermione smiled at her friends. Oooh, how much havoc they will cause!

~8~8~8~8~

The next day, Harry was alone in his room. Dumbledore yesterday said, he couldn't stay at the Hospital wing all summer, so Snape made a bedroom out of his spare room and Harry settled in the evening. They talked for a little and then Severus showed him to his room. It was a bright blue colour and it had dark wood furniture. He liked it from the start. When he looked around it, he had commented,

'It's great! I love it! I'm relieved, though!'

Snape had asked him, why he was relieved, and Harry answered with a wicked grin,

'Because I thought it was going to be in Slytherin colours.'

They both laughed at this, and then Harry said,

'It's nice to hear you laugh. I never heard you before.'

Severus had became serious again and muttered,

'Well, it wasn't much to laugh after all.'

Harry nodded in appreciation, silently making a promise to change this. Today, he meant to start it. He snuck out of the room and headed to his father's bedroom. He cast an invisibility spell on the door and looked inside. He saw Snape sleeping on a big four-poster bed, similar to the one in his room. He conjured a bucket full of ice-cold water above his father's head and his shoes to pink plush sleepers, which weren't seen by him. Then he made the same to his robes, only changing them in Gryffindor colours and an inscription on the back (Made by: Gryffin of the Marauders). He chucked silently and went off to his room. He changed in his new clothes, which Remus provided for him and headed for breakfast in the Great Hall. It was fifteen minutes later when all professors were gathered in the Hall that Severus burst through the doors with wet hair and murderous look on his face.

'HARRY JAMES POTTER! WHAT DID YOU DO?!?'

Harry snickered at the look of his father. The professors were enjoying the site and laughing silently. Harry tried to look innocent and asked,

'What are you talking about, sir? What did I do?'

'I'll give you 'what did I do?' you prat, you know very well what you did!'

Harry still looked innocent and waved his wrist unseen by the others. His father was now able to see his choice of clothes. Dumbledore was still chuckling when he said,

'Severus, did you wake up on the left side of the bed?'

Snape looked confused and the Headmaster continued,

'Well, I was just wondering... The robes and the shoes really fit you well.'

Harry almost choked as he tried his best not to laugh. Snape glanced at his outfit and stiffened. The professors were now laughing openly. Snape quietly said,

'I see,'

Harry saw a slight hurt look on his fathers face and felt a little guilty for making fun of him. He stood up and stepped to his father, saying,

'I only wanted to make you laugh. At least a little, before you have to behave like a total bastard to me again. I swear I didn't mean to hurt you...'

He now had a slight begging voice. He looked at his feet when he finished. Severus watched him closely and he could see his son was sincere. He smiled slightly and put a finger under Harry's chin, bringing it up. He saw tears welling up in Harry's eyes, and he saw fright. Does he frighten him? Or is this another treat from the Dursleys?

'I'm not mad at you. Well... I was, but I'm not anymore. I see what you are trying to do and I understand it. Thank you, Harry, but don't do it too often, okay?'

Harry nodded and smiled. He went back to the table and it was then that Remus noticed the sign on Snape's back. He chuckled slightly. Severus looked annoyed when he asked,

'What now, Lupin?'

Remus shook his head and answered,

'Nothing, I only managed to see the maker's sign on your back.'

Snape conjured a mirror and charmed it so he could se his back. He smiled slightly at the nickname of his son and pocketed the mirror, then also sat down at the table and started eating, not caring about other teachers still chuckling about his outfit. Harry was staring at his plate thinking of how he is going to go to Diagon Alley.

'What are you thinking about?' asked Remus quietly. Harry flinched slightly and replied,

'Oh, I was just thinking how am I going to go to Diagon Alley, if I'm allowed, that is.'

'Well, I was thinking of today, Harry.' Dumbledore said, as he listened to their conversation. Harry smiled brightly and attacked his food with renewed force. Everyone at the table smiled at the antics. After the breakfast, Harry went off to his room to find his Hogwarts cloak. He left the castle and headed towards Hagrid's hut. He searched for the grave of his beloved Hedwig. When he found it, he slumped on the grass before it and tears flew down his cheeks. He sat there for many minutes when he heard a slithering. He put out a hand, so that Idylla could make herself comfortable on his arm. He hissed,

'Hi. How are you? Sorry I couldn't see you sooner.'

'It's okay. I understand.'

Harry smiled and put the snake on his lap. He stroked her head and said,

'You know. I'm glad you're alive. I was afraid you were killed too.'

Idylla curled herself on his lap and answered,

'Thank you, Harry.'

They talked and talked and it was nearing noon when Harry heard a relieved voice,

'Here you are Harry. I was worried.'

Harry glanced up at his father and motioned for him to join him on the grass. Snape obeyed and sat down himself. Harry stared at Hedwig's grave and said,

'I'm glad you're here. I was kind of starting to feel lonely. Even though Idylla is here.'

Snape looked at the snake on his son's lap and smiled slightly.

'Thanks. I was looking for you, because I wanted to know, if you'll be ready to go to Diagon Alley soon. Remus will accompany you. I'm sorry I can't, but I have to keep up a reputation of the greasy git of a Potions Master and I can't be seen with you. I'm sorry.'

Harry smiled slightly and nodded,

'It's okay. I knew that already. And yes, I'm ready to go.'

He stood up and Idylla curled around his waist. He smiled and patted her head. He waited for Snape to stand up too and they went to Hogwarts together. After a quick lunch, Harry and Remus stood at the fireplace in Headmaster's office and Remus was telling Harry what to do,

'You just say Diagon Alley as clearly as you can, okay? I'll go first, so I can watch as you come out after me. Precaution.'

Harry nodded and waited for Remus to disappear in the flames of green fire as he gathered a fist full of Floo powder himself. He waited for ten seconds and threw the powder in the fire, went in and yelled,

'Diagon Alley!'